Omaha daily bee., 1887-08-29
AN OMAHA PIONEER.
Tho Views ofa Worthy Westerner on
Things Special and Practical.

Tn0 views OF worthy "eSterncr ON
Things Special and Practical.
representative of the BEE had the
pleasure, last evening. of meeting Colonel
ID. M. Steele, pioneer of this section of
the Missouri Valley, and the head of the
prosperous firm of D. Nj. Steele & Co.,
one OF our leading wholesale grocery
firms.
"What do you think of the situations"
was asked.
81 came here" replied MIR, Steele, "in
1861. Then, the show for Omaha was
very gloomy. [ was a partner of Sam
r. johnson. We thought that Omaha
then, a town of about $1,000 was no good.
We moved over to Council Bluffs. John.
son also thought so-but had an abiding
back in '66 and re.cstablished a wholesale
grocery house here, and since then !
have ever been prominently identified
with Omaha's interests, satisfied from the
start of its grand and glorious future"
ipations?"
Yes" replied the rotund wholesaler.
"The facts, to draw up the curtain, ara
these st. Joe should have been the
eastern terminus OF all the railroads lead
ing from the Missouri river to the Pacific
coast. Then, at the inception of tho
overland railroads, st. Joe was the only
town on the Missouri river having rail
connections with tho east. The
route to the Pacific would naturally
its eastern terminus. but lot of hot.
headed fools, never representing the sen.
timents OF Missouri, tore the national
flag from the postof1ice, and afterwards
insulted Grant, through some one blow
ing horn as he was speaking l told
Hayes, the insignificant tin.horn gam
bier, who then blew the horn, that
would kill him il he did not throw that
horn in the mud, That footing of tho
horn cost st. Joseph many thousands OF
population, and many thousands of dol
lars. If JEFF Thompson, Hayes and
others of that ilk had been kept in tho
back ground, as they should have been,
to-day, st. Joseph would DO. as she
should be, the metropolis of the Missouri
"What is your opinion, Colonel Steele,
is the future of the two rival cities on the
Missouri Valleys'
Il think" replied the veteran, "tha
Kansas City will be the great city on the
river. am an old man now, but | ex-
pect to live until l see Kansas City
thriving. bustling city Of over 500, 900 peo
pie, rival of st. Louis. st. Joe
will steadily and slowly. progressi
if it reaches 100, 900 that will be the limit.
As to Omaha, there is no limit 20 its pos
cago of the Missouri Valley, and let me
say one thing, that twenty years ago the
pioneers were confident of Omaha's fu.
ture. Even that far back you could not
buy property within two miles Of the city
limits inside of three figures. l tell you,
the pioneers of Omaha were confident OF
the city's future, and never weakened"
PIattdeutcher Verein Picnic.
The excursion and picnic of the Plat.
deutcher verein to Rural park, about two
miles north of Plattsmouth, yesterday,
was gratifying success. About
four hundred people were in at.
tendance. The Union Pacific band
accompanied the excursiOnists. The
day was passed in dancing, lunchng
and other amusements. The weather
was propitious. About O'Clock last
evening the merry makers returned to
the city, declaring themselves highly
delighted with the days enjoyment. No
accidents occurred to interfere with their
pleasure. President Henry Anderson.
Manager Chris Grudheld, the leader Fred
Stalker and Messrs. IL. jacobson and Gus
Shumer of the committee, were indefat.
igable IN carrying out the programme To
the satisfaction OF all.
General Van Wyck's Appointments.
General Van Wyck will speak at the
Fillmore county fair, at Fairmont, Au-
gust 81; at the Wayne county fair, at
Wayne, on September /; Richardson
county fair, at Salem, September9; How
ard county far, at Danncbrog, Septem-
ber IL; Cedar county fair at harrington,
September IA.
General Van Wyck will visit the Ne
braska &. A. X. reunion in Omana on
September and z.
As was to have been expected, there is
row among the supposed choice coteris
Of American women in London.